RUMROK

From «good but needs improvement» to meh!
The bad: The much heralded Tiki is gone. Tiki drinks menu and Tiki specials are no more. The emphasis is now on the «Rock» in Rumrok. Rock posters now grace the walls along with more TVs playing sports or movies and the Tiki décor has been dialed back.
The really bad: Without the Tiki, this place no longer stands out as a destination bar. Giving up destination status means the restrictive open hours no longer make sense. This place is only open four days a week (Wed — Sat) starting at 8 PM. Most folks have made their bar choice by that time and they totally miss out on drawing a happy hour crowd.
We’re going to miss the Waki Wikis and promise of a real Tiki bar in Sacramento.

I’d recommend going with lots of friends so you can try more drinks. Prices aren’t too bad. Each drink is ~$ 10. This place is pretty cool. The ambiance is that of course… a tiki bar. Hawaiian décor and dim lighting. Seemed spacious since there weren’t a lot of people there. Our waitress was very helpful and chirpy. I enjoyed all the cocktails that we tried. If you’re really into sweet cocktails, this place would be the place to go. One thing that really irked me was that the bar tables towards were way too far away from the seats making it uncomfortable to sit.

No longer a tiki bar theme, kind of a waste of time since we had never been and wanted a tiki drink. Bar is changing to a neighborhood bar…

Our bartender was very knowledgeable and found a perfect drink for our friend: Zombie.
The Waki Wiki drink was super yummy, maybe a little sweet, but really good. Make it a stop if you are downtown.

This is not a tiki bar. The cocktails are lousy, the décor is lacking and the bartenders were rude. My impression is that they wanted to jump on the tiki revival but forgot to check any tiki bars out. The result is a less than half-​assed.

Staff was rude didn’t seem welcoming took awhile to get a drink bartenders appeared to be on chat break the place could use some more tiki decorations, horrible mixed drinks but nice crowd. Met a few friendly people.

I am on a perpetual mission to try any and all tiki bars. I was excited to try this place out when I heard Sacramento was getting it’s own tropical drinking hole.
My husband described this joint as «modern tiki» because it was sleek and chic in design, yet had traditional tiki décor.
There are many drinks are their menu. Some tart and some more sweet. The bartenders were great and extremely helpful when trying to identify which drinks to order. One member of our party ordered a plantar’s punch without asking about what the ingredients tasted like. Each person in our party of 8 tried it and were disappointed by the taste (think scented bath soap). When the bartender was made aware of this, he quickly made the Painkiller as a replacement. It was perfect. We would have been pleased if the service stopped there– but then Tommy came through and offered us a free shot if we followed them on Facebook. When we shared with him how great the bartenders were with the drink situation, he brought us an Island Princess to try out. Also excellent!
Unparalleled service and lots of drinks to choose from. We will definitely be back to have another Waki Liki bowl!

I love Tiki bars SO MUCH. I’ve visited ones in Alameda, San Fran, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. My best friend and I were over the moon that one was finally opening in Sacramento. First impression was that the place is a bit bare. That’s ok, maybe they’re stilling adding to the décor, the place is new after all. A friend commented that it is «Tiki modern» and I’ll bite. We came early (8:30 on a Friday) so it wasn’t too busy and drinks were served relatively quickly. I understand the reggae and Jack Johnson, but when I think of tiki bars I think of surf music and Elvis goes Hawaiian. The drinks are absolutely adorable, and served in fun island glasses, but unfortunately they miss the mark on flavor. The last Tiki bar I went to every drink wowed, out of my group of 6 tonight, only 2 of us enjoyed our first round. My friend disliked hers so much, she sent it back. This was an absolute first for her. That being said, the bartender was EXTREMELY courteous and was much appreciated!
We will absolutely be back to give this place another chance, I want it to be good SO BAD! Service was GREAT but please please please, somehow, send the bartenders to ‘Tiki Drinks 101′ as there’s plenty room for improvement. Also, for the love of God, turn off Margaritaville and turn on the surf rock.
Also.. . Clean restrooms! Huzzah! That never goes unappreciated :)

Awesome place! Bartenders were super nice, drinks were delicious and reasonably priced. Check it out!

I would love to tell you that Sacramento FINALLY has an authentic tiki bar that serves tasty drinks. Unfortunately, this is not it. They were on the right track but got lost somewhere along the way. We ordered five different drinks and while they were prepared with flare and many ingredients… None were good. Too reminiscent of cough syrup and poorly mixed. Sad sad. Also, the music… Please. Just. Stop. With. Pandora. Horrid 90s mix that was more obnoxious than anything else…

Listen to the reviews… The bartenders aren’t bartenders… We got two rum runners and there defiantly the worst drinks we’ve ever had … Bartenders need to step their game up … Then we got what was supposed to be one of their best selling drinks and it was still just ok… Probably won’t come back to this bar

My friend wanted to check this place out, so a small group of us went on a Friday night. It was raining outside, so there weren’t too many people here.
The drinks are mostly cocktails. Most of the cocktails are pretty sweet, but some have a good kick to it. Our server was really nice and helpful when we were ordering.
Overall, this place was just OK. Not the best cocktails I’ve had, and nothing I want to bring everyone I know to experience. It’s a good spot if you just saw a show at the nearby theater and want to grab a drink afterwards.

My «Hurricane» tasted like Robitussin, but the bartender was more drunk than I was, which probably didn’t help.
The bar’s atmosphere was nice, and drink prices were reasonable, but tonight, the bar skills were lacking.

This is more a club than tiki bar. Tiki fans should be aware. Nothing wrong with that but Bacardi is definitely the rum of choice for the classic named drinks with the music bumpn.

Giving this establishment a 3 star because I’ve been to many other rum bars so I kind of had high expectations. First, I was hoping this place would have more tiki decorations. Still feels very bare here but I think they are off to a good start. Second, the gals and I tried 5 different drinks and we especially loved the Lavaflow! We weren’t expecting it to have a «smoothie-​like» consistency, but it was a pleasant surprise! I felt like the other drinks could have been «made» or «mixed» better. Great recipes, but just lacked the correct ratios of juice to alcohol. Employees are friendly! One thing was quite uncomfortable for me though: if you’re sitting at one of the booths, you’ll notice the table is too far away from the chair. I had to sit forward to drink my drink and be able to have a normal conversation with my friends!
Overall, I would come back, but maybe in a couple months once they get their drinks together.

Sacramento finally gets a Tiki bar. My favorite drink so far? The Zombie.

Festive & Mirthful Holiday Opening Weekend!
SITREP
There’s a NEW Tiki Bar in town! And like an opening Vegas act, it will *WOW* and *BEDAZZLE* you. But along those lines, there may be perceived a few opening night *hiccups* as seen by some in our group that could be improved upon.
THE SETUP
This was Rumrok’s soft-​opening weekend, and what a blast it has been for Friday & Saturday nights heralding in this new venue for it’s tasty Tiki-​rum drinks.
*FULL-​DISCLOSURE*
This is in-​my-​hood, and since I even take a great interest in knowing the names of all the cats on these blocks (so I can address the fuzz balls properly) — let alone my neighbors & adjacent business enterprises — I have always been keen on knowing what was coming to this corner of 15^th & H many many months ago (as my construction-​phase pictures these last few months demonstrate).
And perhaps with this extra level of local interest & scrutiny to see how things shape up here, I do it with the spirit for wanting things to succeed for Rumrok, and in order to do that, it needs to be more authentic and true to the crowd it wants to initially attract — and more importantly — keep. But let’s get into the metrics & style of Rumrok and have you compare your own notes with me when (and if) you have a chance to visit:
PROS
* GREAT TIKI COCKTAILS! We enjoyed the Rum Runner, the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai, and even Virgin Mai Tais! The drinks are beautifully presented and you can tell the bartenders hand-​craft their drinks with quality ingredients to make it as pleasurable a drinking experience as they can for you, their valued patrons. I can’t wait to try some of the many many options they have, all yum!
* FRIENDLY CUSTOMER SERVICE — bartending staff know their drinks and happy to engage with us — a true credit to Rumrok: explaining details about drinks, helping with selections containing mixers we enjoy or do NOT enjoy; they prove themselves to be excellent & outstanding beverage craftsmen & craftswomen.
* AMBIANCE & DECOR — fun décor with Tiki masks, low-​lighting, beautiful bar and tables of different varieties & levels. Rumrok is definitely wanting to appeal to the comfort and physicality of different patrons, and I applaud them for that
* INEXPENSIVE PARKING — you can’t beat having a nice parking garage structure right across the street from Rumrok. Takes away the downtown/​midtown parking headache for us.
* OUTSIDE COMMUNAL AREA — you smoke? Or want to take a break from being inside? There’s a rather nice, permanently ensconced area to chat, to smoke, to people watch from.
CONS:
* TVs — not a fan of TVs glaring bright ugly screens & disrupting intimate vibe you’re trying to create with subdued lighting. Aren’t there SPORTS bars for that? (*jesus wept*) Send them to your associate sports bar establishment — The Republic — a block away if they’re so gaddam set on needing to watch TV! I want to «Tiki» — that’s why I’m at Rumrok, NOT The Republic.
Certainly after 8pm, the desire is for a true Tiki experience does NOT include TVs — we’re trying to escape «doucheville», not get encroached by it. [To endure this is on par with guests wearing sweat pants to a wedding, or being served authentic enchiladas and pouring Pace Picante sauce all over them — great way to wreck special moments.]
* TIKI AUTHENTICITY– we hope our initial impressions will be unfounded in the long-​run. But the feeling is this bar run by a group of younger professionals more interested in the «gimmick» of Tiki (and trying to cash in that), and less that they true believers in the «Spirit of Tiki».
* BATHROOMS — very sparse on carrying the Tiki theme to these parts of the establishment — a missed opportunity — you could try a bit harder here in creating a synchronous theme through the entirety of Rumrok.
DOWN-​THE-​LINE
Rumrok plans to partner up with some Food Trucks (ex. Drewski’s) on a rotating basis so that there will be food available for it’s patrons (since they do not serve food). And with it’s business-​connection to the successful «The Republic» (where I held my birthday party a couple year’s ago), there’s no reason why Rumrok can’t duplicate the same success.
«WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE»
…OR «Christmas Past, as it were. Getting more into the surrounding environment of the «Rumrok, the location» is positioned on what has been an energetic intersection:
* Once the Legion Hall (A patriotic high)
* It’s right next to the old Governor’s Historic Mansion — beautiful, classy, and educational.
* It sits kitty-​corner to the B-​Street theatre, another example of class & good culture
With Rumrok, this neighborhood is really seeing great strides for it’s betterment.
THE LOWDOWN
A very good start, with the potential to be a GREAT neighborhood Tiki spot in coming weeks.